Anchor

Written by: RinoaDestiny

#21 – Relaxation

After spending his morning at the local government office dealing with estate matters, Iori wanted a quiet lunch and something strong to drink. His favorite bar sufficed in both, so he headed downtown via subway. Taking a window seat, he kept his gaze directed at the floor – the train was full but not crowded – and thought about the following week. Kyo's contract for the new sponsor was being signed in full and it was the first major event they were going to celebrate together.

A new milestone so early in their relationship. It was, strangely enough, quite astonishing. Celebrating anything with Kyo seemed…. It would've been impossible even a year ago.

Artificial and natural light suffused the train with warmth and brightness. Someone coughed, muffling the sound. Sneakers and sandals within his periphery. Shopping bags besides other seated riders and a few briefcases belonging to salarymen. Perhaps it was the lunch hour for everyone else as well. The real drinking wouldn't begin until after corporate work hours and those were sometimes mandatory. While he didn't belong to the suits and skyscrapers world, Iori wasn't ignorant of what occurred behind those glass windows.

He was just glad he wasn't a part of the tedium.

His stomach rumbled. Something heavier than the bar's lighter starter plates, then. Maybe an assortment of whiskeys could work as well. He slotted those away in his mind, closed his eyes, and let the easy movement of the train coax him into a mild nap. He put all thoughts of paperwork aside and allowed himself to relax.

His day was just getting started, after all.

"One karaage. Also one of the small plain pizzas."

"Your usual for the drink?" It was quiet right now, being afternoon, and the bartender began preparing his food. "Or is it something different today?"

"What's your best Japanese whisky?"

The bartender set two plates on the counter for his starters, retrieved a particular bottle, and brought it over. "I recommend the Hakushu 12 Year Old. Single malt."

"Suntory, huh?" The green glass bottle had clean and simple labels. "Give me a shot."

The small glass was quickly set in front of him. Iori picked it up and studied the liquor's color. It was pale gold in the light and beautifully clear. He sniffed it, catching smokiness beneath a slight fruity aroma. Intrigued, he downed the shot, anticipating the usual burn. The first thing that struck him was the malty flavor with a fruity undertone. However, it kept evolving – the flavors were complex – and a single shot glass wasn't enough.

He put the glass down. "I'll have one neat."

The bartender smiled. "I'll bring your food, too."

Iori placed one arm on the counter and glanced around. The place was relatively sedate right now – he saw a few customers here and there – and it suited his mood just fine. Behind him, the soft clink of plates and he turned back to find his karaage and pizza. The bartender served him his whisky, the pale color transparent in the bar's ambient lighting.

The sound of the front door opening. The bartender left.

Hungry and even more so now with food in front of him, Iori went for the bar's specialty karaage first. The fried chicken was a perfect opener and he preferred eating it hot. The pizza could wait, and he intended to savor it with the Hakushu 12 Year Old. It reminded him of an Irish whiskey he favored, but he couldn't pinpoint it right at this moment.

After demolishing the chicken, he settled back on his bar stool, relaxing. Reaching inside his jacket's inner pocket, he withdrew his two name stamps and held them in his hand. Ever since his inheritance of the clan at a younger age, Iori always had these with him. Imperative if he needed documents signed and he wasn't sure which ones the official would've presented him with today. As it turned out, the formal name stamp was necessary.

He put the informal one down on the counter. It only had his surname, for he doubted many others used the same characters. The small block of carved black stone gleamed, corners crisp and sharp.

Iori placed his formal name stamp down beside the other one and reached for his whisky. Took a sip and waited for the flavors to unfold on his tongue and in the back of his throat. Next to the black stone stamp, the rock crystal one bearing his entire name was simple yet expensive. One thing the Yagami clan never worried about was money. The other thing was being classy in an understated way; he only aligned with that principle occasionally.

The whisky was good. Great, in fact. He took another sip and then started on his pizza. Soon, his hunger disappeared, soothed by hot food and excellent liquor. As he'd mentioned to Kyo, the bartender here had merit. Introducing this one to Kyo wouldn't go amiss. Sitting with his back to the counter, glass in hand, he enjoyed his drink. Let it mellow on his tongue.

Time passed – a comfortable shifting of hours – and it was nearing four in the afternoon when he finished his second glass of whisky. "I'll open with my usual next Tuesday evening, but I'll ask for this one afterwards."

The bartender wiped his hands. "Ah. It's an interesting change for you."

"A suggestion was made to me. It was a good one."

"Will you be by yourself?"

Iori pocketed his informal name stamp and studied the careful carving of his name on the formal one. "No."

"Tell me what you need and I'll have it for you."

He nodded. Put the second name stamp into his pocket, nestling it beside the other one and a sealed container of red paste. "If you have other whiskies like that, we'll be sampling them that night."

"I'll have a list of recommendations, Yagami-san."

That was all he needed to hear. Iori paid his bill and left the bar. The day wasn't over yet – wind and sunshine and the possibility of seeing wandering strays – and he wasn't ready to go home. Wanted to remain outside until the sun set and then take a night train back. His home city in the evening carried a different lively character and he was, sometimes, a part of it.

He stretched. Decided to restock his groceries and purchase some backup guitar strings just in case.

The back of his neck prickled – a sudden instinctual warning.

Surprised, he looked around the area. Nothing seemed off, but his senses wouldn't lie to him. Best action to take would be to leave and go elsewhere, away from this unseen threat. He didn't want to deal with anything weightier than government paperwork today.

A pleasant breeze blew by, warmed by the overhanging sun.

Iori glanced over his shoulder and departed the vicinity.

Comments: Did some research into Japanese whisky brands and the Hakushu 12 Year Old single malt by Suntory kept showing up on recommended lists. Apparently, it was also discontinued (yet, is coming back as a limited release in March this year), so if anyone still has a bottle today, the price would go for a premium. There are some other contenders, but I'll bring those up later if necessary. I did Google what the whisky looked like in a glass and it was this beautiful pale gold. I also referred to four websites regarding this whisky, which I'll list on AO3.